Gary Breen dismissed Mick McCarthy’s suggestion that Ireland would have been knocked out at the group stages of the 2002 World Cup if Roy Keane had stayed on after the Saipan incident.

McCarthy, who managed the Boys in Green at the tournament, told Eamonn Dunphy in a recent interview that Keane’s presence would have prevented his side reaching the knockout-round.

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson told McCarthy in a telephone conversation that his decision to send Keane home cost his side a “semi-final” appearance.

And Breen admitted he struggled to see where his ex-boss was coming from with his comments on the now assistant Ireland manager.

“I’m very surprised Mick said that,” Breen told OTB.

“How can you say that about a midfielder who was arguably the best in the world at that time?”

Mick McCarthy (left) and Roy Keane (right). Image: ©INPHO/Andrew Paton

OTB host, Nathan Murphy, suggested McCarthy’s assessment was down to his possible negative influence on the dressing room rather than his own individual quality.

But Breen also disagreed with that take on events.

“I can understand that argument...I don’t agree with it,” Breen added.

“I don’t think there was anything going on throughout the qualifying campaign. We knew they weren’t particularly good friends and they were able to keep a lid on it.

“But it escalated in Saipan. But there’s no reason to suggest that Roy was going to go off on a tangent everytime we had a game.

“Matt Holland and Mark Kinsella were brilliant in central midfield and [Lee] Carsley was ready to step in as well. But I’m not convinced we would have been a better team without Roy Keane. What team would?

“I don’t mind being asked questions about it because when I read all the lads’ books – when I read their interpretation of what happened – I don’t even remember being there.

“I’m reading it thinking: ‘Did that actually happen?’

“I’m not convinced.”

James Hopper